Flux fountain

ABSTRACT

Flux fountain techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an apparatus includes a cover configured to be disposed over at least a portion of a display device of a computing device that is configured as a tablet and a connection portion attached to the cover using a flexible hinge. The connection portion is configured to be physically coupled to the computing device using a magnetic coupling device. The magnetic coupling device includes a first magnet that is disposed in the connection portion such that a magnetic field is aligned along an axis and second and third magnets are disposed in the connection portion at opposing sides of the first magnet from each other. The second and third magnets have respective magnetic fields that are aligned along a respective axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the magnetic field of the first magnet.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority as a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/471,237, filed May 14, 2012, andtitled “Flux Fountain”, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) tothe following U.S. Provisional Patent Applications:

U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/606,321, filed Mar. 2, 2012,and titled “Screen Edge;”

U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/606,301, filed Mar. 2, 2012,and titled “Input Device Functionality;”

U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/606,313, filed Mar. 2, 2012,and titled “Functional Hinge;”

U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/606,333, filed Mar. 2, 2012,and titled “Usage and Authentication;”

U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/613,745, filed Mar. 21, 2012,and titled “Usage and Authentication;”

U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/606,336, filed Mar. 2, 2012,and titled “Kickstand and Camera;” and

U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/607,451, filed Mar. 6, 2012,and titled “Spanaway Provisional;”

the entire disclosures of each of these applications being incorporatedby reference in their entirety.

Further this application incorporates the following applications byreference in their entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/470,633, filed May 14, 2012, andtitled “Flexible Hinge and Removable Attachment;”

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/471,282, filed May 14, 2012, andtitled “Input Device Assembly.”

BACKGROUND

Mobile computing devices have been developed to increase thefunctionality that is made available to users in a mobile setting. Forexample, a user may interact with a mobile phone, tablet computer, orother mobile computing device to check email, surf the web, composetexts, interact with applications, and so on.

Because mobile computing devices are configured to be mobile, however,the devices may be exposed to a wide variety of environments havingvarying degrees of safety for the computing device. Accordingly, deviceswere developed to help protect the mobile computing devices from theirenvironment. However, conventional techniques to install and remove thedevices from the computing device alternated between being difficult toremove but providing good protection or being relatively easy to removebut providing limited protection.

SUMMARY

Flux fountain techniques are described. In one or more implementations,an apparatus includes a cover configured to be disposed over at least aportion of a display device of a computing device that is configured asa tablet and a connection portion attached to the cover using a flexiblehinge. The connection portion is configured to be physically coupled tothe computing device using a magnetic coupling device. The magneticcoupling device includes a first magnet that is disposed in theconnection portion such that a magnetic field is aligned along an axisand second and third magnets are disposed in the connection portion atopposing sides of the first magnet from each other. The second and thirdmagnets having respective magnetic fields that are aligned along arespective axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of themagnetic field of the first magnet.

In one or more implementations, an input device includes an inputportion configured to generate signals for processing by a computingdevice, the input portion including at least one key and a connectionportion attached to the input portion using a flexible hinge. Theconnection portion is configured to communicatively couple to acomputing device to communicate the signals for processing by thecomputing device and physically couple to the computing device using amagnetic coupling device having a plurality of magnets that areconfigured to implement a flux fountain.

In one or more implementations, a computing device includes a housing,one or more modules disposed within the housing and implemented at leastpartially in hardware to perform one or more operations, and a magneticcoupling device supported by the housing and configured to form amagnetic and physical coupling to a device. The magnetic coupling deviceincludes a first magnet that is disposed in the connection portion suchthat a magnetic field is aligned along an axis and second and thirdmagnets are disposed in the connection portion at opposing sides of thefirst magnet from each other, each having a respective magnetic fieldthat is aligned along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to theaxis of the magnetic field of the first magnet.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanyingfigures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference numberidentifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. Theuse of the same reference numbers in different instances in thedescription and the figures may indicate similar or identical items.Entities represented in the figures may be indicative of one or moreentities and thus reference may be made interchangeably to single orplural forms of the entities in the discussion.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an environment in an example implementationthat is operable to employ the techniques described herein.

FIG. 2 depicts an example implementation of an input device of FIG. 1 asshowing a flexible hinge in greater detail.

FIG. 3 depicts an example orientation of the input device in relation tothe computing device as covering a display device of the computingdevice.

FIG. 4 depicts an example orientation of the input device in relation tothe computing device as assuming a typing orientation.

FIG. 5 depicts an example orientation of the input device in relation tothe computing device as covering a rear housing of the computing device102 and exposing a display device of the computing device.

FIG. 6 depicts an example orientation of the input device as including aportion configured to cover a rear of the computing device, which inthis instance is used to support a kickstand of the computing device.

FIG. 7 depicts an example orientation in which the input deviceincluding the portion of FIG. 6 are used to cover both the front andback of the computing device.

FIG. 8 depicts an example implementation showing a perspective view of aconnection portion of FIG. 2 that includes mechanical couplingprotrusions and a plurality of communication contacts.

FIG. 9 depicts a cross section taken along an axis showing acommunication contact as well as a cross section of a cavity of thecomputing device in greater detail.

FIG. 10 depicts a cross section taken along an axis showing a mechanicalcoupling protrusion as well as a cross section of the cavity of thecomputing device in greater detail.

FIG. 11 depicts a cross section taken along an axis showing a magneticcoupling device as well as a cross section of the cavity of thecomputing device in greater detail.

FIG. 12 depicts an example of a magnetic coupling portion that may beemployed by the input device or computing device to implement a fluxfountain.

FIG. 13 depicts another example of a magnetic coupling portion that maybe employed by the input device or computing device to implement a fluxfountain.

FIG. 14 depicts an example of a cover configured to be attracted to oneor more of the magnetic coupling devices of the computing device.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example system including various components of anexample device that can be implemented as any type of computing deviceas described with reference to FIGS. 1-14 to implement embodiments ofthe techniques described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

A variety of different devices may be physically attached to a mobilecomputing device to provide a variety of functionality. For example, adevice may be configured to provide a cover for at least a displaydevice of the computing device to protect it against harm. Other devicesmay also be physically attached to the mobile computing device, such asan input device (e.g., keyboard having a track pad) to provide inputs tothe computing device. Further, functionality of these devices may becombined, such as to provide a combination cover and input device.However, conventional techniques that were utilized to attach devices tothe computing device may alternate between significant protection andcorresponding complications in installing and removing the device tolimited protection but having relative ease of installation and removal.

Flux fountain techniques are described. In one or more implementations,a device may be configured to be attached to a computing device using amagnetic coupling device. The magnetic coupling device may include aplurality of magnets having respective magnetic fields that are arrangedin a plurality of axes to extend an effectiveness of the magnetic field.This may be used to promote alignment as well as increase a range atwhich the magnets are sufficient to initiate the physical coupling,e.g., cause the devices to “snap” together. One example of this is aflux fountain, instances of which are discussed in relation to FIGS. 12and 13. The computing device may also include a flux fountain toleverage this functionality. In one example, a range of the magnets maybe extended from a few millimeters to a few centimeters and increase astrength of a physical coupling supported by the magnets. Furtherdiscussion of these and other techniques may be found in relation to thefollowing figures.

In the following discussion, an example environment is first describedthat may employ the techniques described herein. Example procedures arethen described which may be performed in the example environment as wellas other environments. Consequently, performance of the exampleprocedures is not limited to the example environment and the exampleenvironment is not limited to performance of the example procedures.Further, although an input device is described, other devices are alsocontemplated that do not include input functionality, such as covers.For example, these techniques are equally applicable to passive devices,e.g., a cover having one or more materials (e.g., magnets, ferrousmaterial, and so on) that are configured and positioned within the coverto be attracted to magnetic coupling devices of the computing device,use of protrusions and connecting portion, and so on as furtherdescribed below.

Example Environment

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an environment 100 in an exampleimplementation that is operable to employ the techniques describedherein. The illustrated environment 100 includes an example of acomputing device 102 that is physically and communicatively coupled toan input device 104 via a flexible hinge 106. The computing device 102may be configured in a variety of ways. For example, the computingdevice 102 may be configured for mobile use, such as a mobile phone, atablet computer as illustrated, and so on. Thus, the computing device102 may range from full resource devices with substantial memory andprocessor resources to a low-resource device with limited memory and/orprocessing resources. The computing device 102 may also relate tosoftware that causes the computing device 102 to perform one or moreoperations.

The computing device 102, for instance, is illustrated as including aninput/output module 108. The input/output module 108 is representativeof functionality relating to processing of inputs and rendering outputsof the computing device 102. A variety of different inputs may beprocessed by the input/output module 108, such as inputs relating tofunctions that correspond to keys of the input device 104, keys of avirtual keyboard displayed by the display device 110 to identifygestures and cause operations to be performed that correspond to thegestures that may be recognized through the input device 104 and/ortouchscreen functionality of the display device 110, and so forth. Thus,the input/output module 108 may support a variety of different inputtechniques by recognizing and leveraging a division between types ofinputs including key presses, gestures, and so on.

In the illustrated example, the input device 104 is configured as havingan input portion that includes a keyboard having a QWERTY arrangement ofkeys and track pad although other arrangements of keys are alsocontemplated. Further, other non-conventional configurations are alsocontemplated, such as a game controller, configuration to mimic amusical instrument, and so forth. Thus, the input device 104 and keysincorporated by the input device 104 may assume a variety of differentconfigurations to support a variety of different functionality.

As previously described, the input device 104 is physically andcommunicatively coupled to the computing device 102 in this examplethrough use of a flexible hinge 106. The flexible hinge 106 is flexiblein that rotational movement supported by the hinge is achieved throughflexing (e.g., bending) of the material forming the hinge as opposed tomechanical rotation as supported by a pin, although that embodiment isalso contemplated. Further, this flexible rotation may be configured tosupport movement in one or more directions (e.g., vertically in thefigure) yet restrict movement in other directions, such as lateralmovement of the input device 104 in relation to the computing device102. This may be used to support consistent alignment of the inputdevice 104 in relation to the computing device 102, such as to alignsensors used to change power states, application states, and so on.

The flexible hinge 106, for instance, may be formed using one or morelayers of fabric and include conductors formed as flexible traces tocommunicatively couple the input device 104 to the computing device 102and vice versa. This communication, for instance, may be used tocommunicate a result of a key press to the computing device 102, receivepower from the computing device, perform authentication, providesupplemental power to the computing device 102, and so on. The flexiblehinge 106 may be configured in a variety of ways, further discussion ofwhich may be found in relation to the following figure.

FIG. 2 depicts an example implementation 200 of the input device 104 ofFIG. 1 as showing the flexible hinge 106 in greater detail. In thisexample, a connection portion 202 of the input device is shown that isconfigured to provide a communicative and physical connection betweenthe input device 104 and the computing device 102. The connectionportion 202 as illustrated has a height and cross section configured tobe received in a channel in the housing of the computing device 102,although this arrangement may also be reversed without departing fromthe spirit and scope thereof.

The connection portion 202 is flexibly connected to a portion of theinput device 104 that includes the keys through use of the flexiblehinge 106. Thus, when the connection portion 202 is physically connectedto the computing device the combination of the connection portion 202and the flexible hinge 106 supports movement of the input device 104 inrelation to the computing device 102 that is similar to a hinge of abook.

Through this rotational movement, a variety of different orientations ofthe input device 104 in relation to the computing device 102 may besupported. For example, rotational movement may be supported by theflexible hinge 106 such that the input device 104 may be placed againstthe display device 110 of the computing device 102 and thereby act as acover as shown in the example orientation 300 of FIG. 3. Thus, the inputdevice 104 may act to protect the display device 110 of the computingdevice 102 from harm.

As shown in the example orientation 400 of FIG. 4, a typing arrangementmay be supported. In this orientation, the input device 104 is laid flatagainst a surface and the computing device 102 is disposed at an angleto permit viewing of the display device 110, e.g., such as through useof a kickstand 402 disposed on a rear surface of the computing device102.

In the example orientation 500 of FIG. 5, the input device 104 may alsobe rotated so as to be disposed against a back of the computing device102, e.g., against a rear housing of the computing device 102 that isdisposed opposite the display device 110 on the computing device 102. Inthis example, through orientation of the connection portion 202 to thecomputing device 102, the flexible hinge 106 is caused to “wrap around”the connection portion 202 to position the input device 104 at the rearof the computing device 102.

This wrapping causes a portion of a rear of the computing device 102 toremain exposed. This may be leveraged for a variety of functionality,such as to permit a camera 502 positioned on the rear of the computingdevice 102 to be used even though a significant portion of the rear ofthe computing device 102 is covered by the input device 104 in thisexample orientation 500. Although configuration of the input device 104to cover a single side of the computing device 102 at any one time wasdescribed above, other configurations are also contemplated.

In the example orientation 600 of FIG. 6, the input device 104 isillustrated as including a portion 602 configured to cover a rear of thecomputing device. This portion 602 is also connected to the connectionportion 202 using a flexible hinge 604.

The example orientation 600 of FIG. 6 also illustrates a typingarrangement in which the input device 104 is laid flat against a surfaceand the computing device 102 is disposed at an angle to permit viewingof the display device 110. This is supported through use of a kickstand402 disposed on a rear surface of the computing device 102 to contactthe portion 602 in this example.

FIG. 7 depicts an example orientation 700 in which the input device 104including the portion 602 are used to cover both the front (e.g.,display device 110) and back (e.g., opposing side of the housing fromthe display device) of the computing device 102. In one or moreimplementations, electrical and other connectors may also be disposedalong the sides of the computing device 102 and/or the input device 104,e.g., to provide auxiliary power when closed.

Naturally, a variety of other orientations are also supported. Forinstance, the computing device 102 and input device 104 may assume anarrangement such that both are laid flat against a surface as shown inFIG. 1. Other instances are also contemplated, such as a tripodarrangement, meeting arrangement, presentation arrangement, and soforth.

Returning again to FIG. 2, the connection portion 202 is illustrated inthis example as including magnetic coupling devices 204, 206, mechanicalcoupling protrusions 208, 210, and a plurality of communication contacts212. The magnetic coupling devices 204, 206 are configured tomagnetically couple to complementary magnetic coupling devices of thecomputing device 102 through use of one or more magnets. In this way,the input device 104 may be physically secured to the computing device102 through use of magnetic attraction.

The connection portion 202 also includes mechanical coupling protrusions208, 210 to form a mechanical physical connection between the inputdevice 104 and the computing device 102. The mechanical couplingprotrusions 208, 210 are shown in greater detail in relation to FIG. 8,which is discussed below.

FIG. 8 depicts an example implementation 800 showing a perspective viewof the connection portion 202 of FIG. 2 that includes the mechanicalcoupling protrusions 208, 210 and the plurality of communicationcontacts 212. As illustrated, the mechanical coupling protrusions 208,210 are configured to extend away from a surface of the connectionportion 202, which in this case is perpendicular although other anglesare also contemplated.

The mechanical coupling protrusions 208, 210 are configured to bereceived within complimentary cavities within the channel of thecomputing device 102. When so received, the mechanical couplingprotrusions 208, 210 promote a mechanical binding between the deviceswhen forces are applied that are not aligned with an axis that isdefined as correspond to the height of the protrusions and the depth ofthe cavity, further discussion of which may be found in relation to FIG.10.

The connection portion 202 is also illustrated as including a pluralityof communication contacts 212. The plurality of communication contacts212 is configured to contact corresponding communication contacts of thecomputing device 102 to form a communicative coupling between thedevices as shown and discussed in greater detail in relation to thefollowing figure.

FIG. 9 depicts a cross section taken along an axis 900 of FIGS. 2 and 8showing one of the communication contacts 212 as well as a cross sectionof a cavity of the computing device 102 in greater detail. Theconnection portion 202 is illustrated as including a projection 902 thatis configured to be complimentary to a channel 904 of the computingdevice 102, e.g., having complimentary shapes, such that movement of theprojection 902 within the cavity 904 is limited.

The communication contacts 212 may be configured in a variety of ways.In the illustrated example, the communication contact 212 of theconnection portion 202 is formed as a spring loaded pin 906 that iscaptured within a barrel 908 of the connection portion. The springloaded pin 906 is biased outward from the barrel 908 to provide aconsistent communication contact between the input device 104 and thecomputing device 102, such as to a contact 910 of the computing device102. Therefore, contact and therefore communication may be maintainedduring movement or jostling of the devices. A variety of other examplesare also contemplated, including placement of the pins on the computingdevice 102 and contacts on the input device 104.

FIG. 10 depicts a cross section taken along an axis 1000 of FIGS. 2 and8 showing the mechanical coupling protrusion 208 as well as a crosssection of the cavity 904 of the computing device 102 in greater detail.As before, the projection 902 and channel 904 are configured to havecomplementary sizes and shapes to limit movement of the connectionportion 202 with respect to the computing device 102.

In this example, the projection 902 of the connection portion 202 alsoincludes disposed thereon the mechanical coupling protrusion 208 that isconfigured to be received in a complementary cavity 1002 disposed withinthe channel 904. The cavity 1002, for instance, may be configured toreceive the protrusion 1002 when configured as a substantially oval postas shown in FIG. 8, although other examples are also contemplated.

When a force is applied that coincides with a longitudinal axis thatfollows the height of the mechanical coupling protrusion 208 and thedepth of the cavity 1002, a user overcomes the magnetic coupling forceapplied by the magnets solely to separate the input device 104 from thecomputing device 102. However, at other angles the mechanical couplingprotrusion 208 is configured to mechanically bind within the cavity1002. This creates a force to resist removal of the input device 104from the computing device 102 in addition to the magnetic force of themagnetic coupling devices 204, 206. In this way, the mechanical couplingprotrusion 208 may bias the removal of the input device 104 from thecomputing device 102 to mimic tearing a page from a book and restrictother attempts to separate the devices.

FIG. 11 depicts a cross section taken along an axis 1100 of FIGS. 2 and8 showing the magnetic coupling device 204 as well as a cross section ofthe cavity 904 of the computing device 102 in greater detail. In thisexample, a magnet of the magnetic coupling device 204 is illustrated asdisposed within the connection portion 202.

Movement of the connection portion 202 and the channel 904 together maycause the magnet 1102 to be attracted to a magnet 1104 of a magneticcoupling device 1106 of the computing device 102, which in this exampleis disposed within the channel 904 of a housing of the computing device102. In one or more implementations, flexibility of the flexible hinge106 may cause the connection portion 202 to “snap into” the channel 904.Further, this may also cause the connection portion 202 to “line up”with the channel 904, such that the mechanical coupling protrusion 208is aligned for insertion into the cavity 1002 and the communicationcontacts 208 are aligned with respective contacts 910 in the channel.

The magnetic coupling devices 204, 1106 may be configured in a varietyof ways. For example, the magnetic coupling device 204 may employ abacking 1108 (e.g., such as steel) to cause a magnetic field generatedby the magnet 1102 to extend outward away from the backing 1108. Thus, arange of the magnetic field generated by the magnet 1102 may beextended. A variety of other configurations may also be employed by themagnetic coupling device 204, 1106, examples of which are described andshown in relation to the following referenced figure.

FIG. 12 depicts an example 1200 of a magnetic coupling portion that maybe employed by the input device 104 or computing device 102 to implementa flux fountain. In this example, alignment of a magnet field isindicted for each of a plurality of magnets using arrows.

A first magnet 1202 is disposed in the magnetic coupling device having amagnetic field aligned along an axis. Second and third magnets 1204,1206 are disposed on opposing sides of the first magnet 1202. Thealignment of the magnetic fields of the second and third magnets 1204,1206 are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first magnet1202 and generally opposed each other.

In this case, the magnetic fields of the second and third magnets areaimed towards the first magnet 1202. This causes the magnetic field ofthe first magnet 1202 to extend further along the indicated axis,thereby increasing a range of the magnetic field of the first magnet1202.

The effect may be further extended using fourth and fifth magnets 1208,1210. In this example, the fourth and fifth magnets 1208, 1210 havemagnetic fields that are aligned as substantially opposite to themagnetic field of the first magnet 1202. Further, the second magnet 1204is disposed between the fourth magnet 1208 and the first magnet 1202.The third magnet 1206 is disposed between the first magnet 1202 and thefifth magnet 1210. Thus, the magnetic fields of the fourth and fifthmagnets 1208,1210 may also be caused to extend further along theirrespective axes which may further increase the strength of these magnetsas well as other magnets in the collection. This arrangement of fivemagnets is suitable to form a flux fountain. Although five magnets weredescribed, any odd number of magnets of five and greater may repeat thisrelationship to form flux fountains of even greater strength.

To magnetically attach to another magnetic coupling device, a similararrangement of magnets may be disposed “on top” or “below” of theillustrated arrangement, e.g., so the magnetic fields of the first,fourth and fifth magnets 1202, 1208, 1210 are aligned with correspondingmagnets above or below those magnets. Further, in the illustratedexample, the strength of the first, fourth, and fifth magnets 1202,1208, 1210 is stronger than the second and third magnets 1204, 1206,although other implementations are also contemplated. Another example ofa flux fountain is described in relation to the following discussion ofthe figure.

FIG. 13 depicts an example 1300 of a magnetic coupling portion that maybe employed by the input device 104 or computing device 102 to implementa flux fountain. In this example, alignment of a magnet field is alsoindicted for each of a plurality of magnets using arrows.

Like the example 1200 of FIG. 12, a first magnet 1302 is disposed in themagnetic coupling device having a magnetic field aligned along an axis.Second and third magnets 1304, 1306 are disposed on opposing sides ofthe first magnet 1302. The alignment of the magnetic fields of thesecond and third magnets 1304, 1306 are substantially perpendicular theaxis of the first magnet 1302 and generally opposed each other like theexample 1200 of FIG. 12.

In this case, the magnetic fields of the second and third magnets areaimed towards the first magnet 1302. This causes the magnetic field ofthe first magnet 1302 to extend further along the indicated axis,thereby increasing a range of the magnetic field of the first magnet1302.

This effect may be further extended using fourth and fifth magnets 1308,1310. In this example, the fourth magnet 1308 has a magnetic field thatis aligned as substantially opposite to the magnetic field of the firstmagnet 1302. The fifth magnet 1310 has a magnetic field that is alignedas substantially corresponding to the magnet field of the second magnet1304 and is substantially opposite to the magnetic field of the thirdmagnet 1306. The fourth magnet 1308 is disposed between the third andfifth magnets 1306, 1310 in the magnetic coupling device.

This arrangement of five magnets is suitable to form a flux fountain.Although five magnets are described, any odd number of magnets of fiveand greater may repeat this relationship to form flux fountains of evengreater strength. Thus, the magnetic fields of the first 1302 and fourthmagnet 1308 may also be caused to extend further along its axis whichmay further increase the strength of this magnet.

To magnetically attach to another magnetic coupling device, a similararrangement of magnets may be disposed “on top” or “below” of theillustrated arrangement, e.g., so the magnetic fields of the first andfourth magnets 1302, 1308 are aligned with corresponding magnets aboveor below those magnets. Further, in the illustrated example, thestrength of the first and fourth magnets 1302, 1308 (individually) isstronger than a strength of the second, third and fifth magnets 1304,1306, 1310, although other implementations are also contemplated.

Further, the example 1200 of FIG. 12, using similar sizes of magnets,may have increased magnetic coupling as opposed to the example 1300 ofFIG. 13. For instance, the example 1200 of FIG. 12 uses three magnets(e.g. the first, fourth, and fifth magnets 1202, 1208, 1210) toprimarily provide the magnetic coupling, with two magnets used to“steer” the magnetic fields of those magnets, e.g., the second and thirdmagnets 1204, 1206. However, the example 1300 of FIG. 13 uses twomagnets (e.g., the first and fourth magnets 1302, 1308) to primarilyprovide the magnetic coupling, with three magnets used to “steer” themagnetic fields of those magnets, e.g., the second, third, and fifthmagnets 1304, 1306, 1308.

Accordingly, though, the example 1300 of FIG. 13, using similar sizes ofmagnets, may have increased magnetic alignment capabilities as opposedto the example 1200 of FIG. 12. For instance, the example 1300 of FIG.13 uses three magnets (e.g. the second, third, and fifth magnets 1304,1306, 1310) to “steer” the magnetic fields of the first and fourthmagnets 1302, 1308, which are used to provide primary magnetic coupling.Therefore, the alignment of the fields of the magnets in the example1300 of FIG. 13 may be closer than the alignment of the example 1200 ofFIG. 12.

Regardless of the technique employed, it should be readily apparent thatthe “steering” or “aiming” of the magnetic fields described may be usedto increase an effective range of the magnets, e.g., in comparison withthe use of the magnets having similar strengths by themselves in aconventional aligned state. In one or more implementations, this causesan increase from a few millimeters using an amount of magnetic materialto a few centimeters using the same amount of magnetic material.

FIG. 14 depicts an example implementation 1400 of a cover 1402configured to employ the techniques described herein. In this example,the cover 1402 includes material 1404, 1406 disposed along a connectionportion of the cover that is configured to be attracted to one or moremagnets of the computing device 102.

For example, the cover 1402 may include a single magnet, one or morestrips of ferrous material, and so on, that are configured to beattracted to eon or more magnets of the computing device 102, e.g., theflux fountain described earlier. For instance, one or more magnets (andvarious combinations thereof) may be positioned to be attracted to oneor more corresponding magnets of a flux fountain implemented by thecomputing device 102. In this way, a strong physical connection may besupported as previously described without including an arrangement ofmagnets “on both sides” of the connection. A variety of other examplesare also contemplated.

Example System and Device

FIG. 15 illustrates an example system generally at 1500 that includes anexample computing device 1502 that is representative of one or morecomputing systems and/or devices that may implement the varioustechniques described herein. The computing device 1502 may be, forexample, be configured to assume a mobile configuration through use of ahousing formed and size to be grasped and carried by one or more handsof a user, illustrated examples of which include a mobile phone, mobilegame and music device, and tablet computer although other examples arealso contemplated.

The example computing device 1502 as illustrated includes a processingsystem 1504, one or more computer-readable media 1506, and one or moreI/O interface 1508 that are communicatively coupled, one to another.Although not shown, the computing device 1502 may further include asystem bus or other data and command transfer system that couples thevarious components, one to another. A system bus can include any one orcombination of different bus structures, such as a memory bus or memorycontroller, a peripheral bus, a universal serial bus, and/or a processoror local bus that utilizes any of a variety of bus architectures. Avariety of other examples are also contemplated, such as control anddata lines.

The processing system 1504 is representative of functionality to performone or more operations using hardware. Accordingly, the processingsystem 1504 is illustrated as including hardware element 1510 that maybe configured as processors, functional blocks, and so forth. This mayinclude implementation in hardware as an application specific integratedcircuit or other logic device formed using one or more semiconductors.The hardware elements 1510 are not limited by the materials from whichthey are formed or the processing mechanisms employed therein. Forexample, processors may be comprised of semiconductor(s) and/ortransistors (e.g., electronic integrated circuits (ICs)). In such acontext, processor-executable instructions may beelectronically-executable instructions.

The computer-readable storage media 1506 is illustrated as includingmemory/storage 1512. The memory/storage 1512 represents memory/storagecapacity associated with one or more computer-readable media. Thememory/storage component 1512 may include volatile media (such as randomaccess memory (RAM)) and/or nonvolatile media (such as read only memory(ROM), Flash memory, optical disks, magnetic disks, and so forth). Thememory/storage component 1512 may include fixed media (e.g., RAM, ROM, afixed hard drive, and so on) as well as removable media (e.g., Flashmemory, a removable hard drive, an optical disc, and so forth). Thecomputer-readable media 1506 may be configured in a variety of otherways as further described below.

Input/output interface(s) 1508 are representative of functionality toallow a user to enter commands and information to computing device 1502,and also allow information to be presented to the user and/or othercomponents or devices using various input/output devices. Examples ofinput devices include a keyboard, a cursor control device (e.g., amouse), a microphone, a scanner, touch functionality (e.g., capacitiveor other sensors that are configured to detect physical touch), a camera(e.g., which may employ visible or non-visible wavelengths such asinfrared frequencies to recognize movement as gestures that do notinvolve touch), and so forth. Examples of output devices include adisplay device (e.g., a monitor or projector), speakers, a printer, anetwork card, tactile-response device, and so forth. Thus, the computingdevice 1502 may be configured in a variety of ways to support userinteraction.

The computing device 1502 is further illustrated as beingcommunicatively and physically coupled to an input device 1514 that isphysically and communicatively removable from the computing device 1502.In this way, a variety of different input devices may be coupled to thecomputing device 1502 having a wide variety of configurations to supporta wide variety of functionality. In this example, the input device 1514includes one or more keys 1516, which may be configured as pressuresensitive keys, mechanically switched keys, and so forth.

The input device 1514 is further illustrated as include one or moremodules 1518 that may be configured to support a variety offunctionality. The one or more modules 1518, for instance, may beconfigured to process analog and/or digital signals received from thekeys 1516 to determine whether a keystroke was intended, determinewhether an input is indicative of resting pressure, supportauthentication of the input device 1514 for operation with the computingdevice 1502, and so on.

Various techniques may be described herein in the general context ofsoftware, hardware elements, or program modules. Generally, such modulesinclude routines, programs, objects, elements, components, datastructures, and so forth that perform particular tasks or implementparticular abstract data types. The terms “module,” “functionality,” and“component” as used herein generally represent software, firmware,hardware, or a combination thereof. The features of the techniquesdescribed herein are platform-independent, meaning that the techniquesmay be implemented on a variety of commercial computing platforms havinga variety of processors.

An implementation of the described modules and techniques may be storedon or transmitted across some form of computer-readable media. Thecomputer-readable media may include a variety of media that may beaccessed by the computing device 1502. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer-readable media may include “computer-readablestorage media” and “computer-readable signal media.”

“Computer-readable storage media” may refer to media and/or devices thatenable persistent and/or non-transitory storage of information incontrast to mere signal transmission, carrier waves, or signals per se.Thus, computer-readable storage media refers to non-signal bearingmedia. The computer-readable storage media includes hardware such asvolatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media and/orstorage devices implemented in a method or technology suitable forstorage of information such as computer readable instructions, datastructures, program modules, logic elements/circuits, or other data.Examples of computer-readable storage media may include, but are notlimited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology,CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, harddisks, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or other storage device, tangible media, orarticle of manufacture suitable to store the desired information andwhich may be accessed by a computer.

“Computer-readable signal media” may refer to a signal-bearing mediumthat is configured to transmit instructions to the hardware of thecomputing device 1502, such as via a network. Signal media typically mayembody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules,or other data in a modulated data signal, such as carrier waves, datasignals, or other transport mechanism. Signal media also include anyinformation delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media include wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media.

As previously described, hardware elements 1510 and computer-readablemedia 1506 are representative of modules, programmable device logicand/or fixed device logic implemented in a hardware form that may beemployed in some embodiments to implement at least some aspects of thetechniques described herein, such as to perform one or moreinstructions. Hardware may include components of an integrated circuitor on-chip system, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield-programmable gate array (FPGA), a complex programmable logicdevice (CPLD), and other implementations in silicon or other hardware.In this context, hardware may operate as a processing device thatperforms program tasks defined by instructions and/or logic embodied bythe hardware as well as a hardware utilized to store instructions forexecution, e.g., the computer-readable storage media describedpreviously.

Combinations of the foregoing may also be employed to implement varioustechniques described herein. Accordingly, software, hardware, orexecutable modules may be implemented as one or more instructions and/orlogic embodied on some form of computer-readable storage media and/or byone or more hardware elements 1510. The computing device 1502 may beconfigured to implement particular instructions and/or functionscorresponding to the software and/or hardware modules. Accordingly,implementation of a module that is executable by the computing device1502 as software may be achieved at least partially in hardware, e.g.,through use of computer-readable storage media and/or hardware elements1510 of the processing system 1504. The instructions and/or functionsmay be executable/operable by one or more articles of manufacture (forexample, one or more computing devices 1502 and/or processing systems1504) to implement techniques, modules, and examples described herein.

CONCLUSION

Although the example implementations have been described in languagespecific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to beunderstood that the implementations defined in the appended claims isnot necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described.Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as example forms ofimplementing the claimed features.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a cover configured to bedisposed over at least a portion of a display device of a computingdevice that is configured as a tablet; and a connection portion attachedto the cover, the connection portion configured to be physically coupledto the computing device using a magnetic coupling device that includes aplurality of magnets arranged, one to another, to implement a fluxfountain that steers magnetic fields of at least one of the magnetsusing one or more other ones of the magnets.
 2. An apparatus asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets are disposed suchthat the respective magnetic fields cause the magnetic field of the atleast one magnet to extend further away from the connection portion thanthe magnetic field of the at least one magnet absent an effect of therespective magnetic fields of the one or more other ones of the magnets.3. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein a strength of themagnetic field of the at least one magnet is stronger than a strength ofthe respective magnetic fields of the one or more other ones of themagnets, individually.
 4. An apparatus as described in claim 1, whereinthe plurality of magnets is configured such that: the at least onemagnet is a first said magnet that is disposed in the connection portionsuch that a magnetic field is aligned along an axis; and the one or moreother ones of the magnets include second and third said magnets aredisposed in the connection portion at opposing sides of the first saidmagnet from each other, each having a respective magnetic field that isaligned along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis ofthe magnetic field of the first said magnet.
 5. An apparatus asdescribed in claim 4, wherein the second and third said magnets aredisposed in the magnetic coupling device to have the respective magneticfields arranged in substantially opposite directions.
 6. An apparatus asdescribed in claim 4, wherein the magnetic coupling device includesfourth and fifth said magnets that together with the first, second, andthird said magnets form the flux fountain.
 7. An apparatus as describedin claim 6, wherein: the fourth said magnet has a magnetic field that isaligned as substantially opposite to the magnetic field of the firstsaid magnet; the fifth said magnet has a magnetic field thatsubstantially corresponds to the magnetic field of the second saidmagnet and is substantially opposite to the magnetic field of the thirdsaid magnet; and the fourth said magnet is disposed between the thirdand fifth said magnets in the magnetic coupling device.
 8. An apparatusas described in claim 6, wherein: the fourth and fifth said magnets havemagnetic fields that are aligned as substantially opposite to themagnetic field of the first magnet; the second said magnet is disposedbetween the first and fourth said magnets in the magnetic couplingdevice; and the third said magnet is disposed between the first andfifth magnets in the magnetic coupling device.
 9. An apparatus asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the cover further includes an inputportion that is communicatively coupled a plurality of communicationcontact of the connection portion, the input device configured toprovide one or more inputs to the computing device.
 10. An apparatus asdescribed in claim 9, wherein the input portion is configured toimplement a keyboard.
 11. A computing device comprising: a housing; oneor more modules disposed within the housing and implemented at leastpartially in hardware to perform one or more operations; and one or morecommunication contacts disposed on the housing and configured to form acommunicative coupling with an input device; and a magnetic couplingdevice that is configured to form a magnetic and physical coupling to adevice, the magnetic coupling device including a plurality of magnetsarranged, one to another, to implement a flux fountain that steersmagnetic fields of at least one of the magnets using one or more otherones of the magnets.
 12. A computing device as described in claim 11,wherein the plurality of magnets are disposed such that the respectivemagnetic fields cause the magnetic field of the at least one magnet toextend further away from the housing than the magnetic field of the atleast one magnet absent an effect of the respective magnetic fields ofthe one or more other ones of the magnets.
 13. A computing device asdescribed in claim 11, wherein a strength of the magnetic field of theat least one magnet is stronger than a strength of the respectivemagnetic fields of the one or more other ones of the magnets,individually.
 14. A computing device as described in claim 11, whereinthe plurality of magnets are configured such that: the at least onemagnet is a first said magnet that is disposed in the connection portionsuch that a magnetic field is aligned along an axis; and the one or moreother ones of the magnets include second and third said magnets aredisposed in the connection portion at opposing sides of the first saidmagnet from each other, each having a respective magnetic field that isaligned along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis ofthe magnetic field of the first said magnet.
 15. A computing device asdescribed in claim 14, wherein the second and third said magnets aredisposed in the magnetic coupling device to have the respective magneticfields arranged in substantially opposite directions.
 16. A computingdevice as described in claim 13, wherein the magnetic coupling deviceincludes fourth and fifth said magnets that together with the first,second, and third said magnets form the flux fountain.
 17. A computingdevice as described in claim 16, wherein: the fourth said magnet has amagnetic field that is aligned as substantially opposite to the magneticfield of the first said magnet; the fifth said magnet has a magneticfield that substantially corresponds to the magnetic field of the secondsaid magnet and is substantially opposite to the magnetic field of thethird said magnet; and the fourth said magnet is disposed between thethird and fifth said magnets in the magnetic coupling device.
 18. Acomputing device as described in claim 16, wherein: the fourth and fifthsaid magnets have magnetic fields that are aligned as substantiallyopposite to the magnetic field of the first magnet; the second saidmagnet is disposed between the first and fourth said magnets in themagnetic coupling device; and the third said magnet is disposed betweenthe first and fifth magnets in the magnetic coupling device.
 19. Asystem comprising: an apparatus comprising a cover configured to coverat least a portion of a display device of a computing device and aconnection portion attached to the cover; the computing devicecomprising a housing and one or more modules disposed within the housingand implemented at least partially in hardware to perform one or moreoperations; and a magnetic coupling device disposed on the apparatus orthe computing device that includes a plurality of magnets arranged, oneto another, to implement a flux fountain that steers magnetic fields ofat least one of the magnets using one or more other ones of the magnetsthereby forming a magnetic and physical connection between the apparatusand the computing device.
 20. A system as described in claim 19, whereinthe plurality of magnets are disposed such that the respective magneticfields cause the magnetic field of the at least one magnet to haveincreased range than the magnetic field of the at least one magnetabsent an effect of the respective magnetic fields of the one or moreother ones of the magnets.